Author's Note: Well then! Sorry, it's been a few weeks. I got distracted with Halloween and stuff. :| Anyways, here's the next chapter, and, though it's kind of short, the next chapter should see a surge in quantity once more. Last chapter we had a mysterious end to our flashbacks...! Let's see where our story takes us!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything here! Also, if you haven't read my other disclaimers by this point...I don't think you will. So let's be done here!
On with the story!

The following day, Sora awoke and decided to ignore the burning desire he'd had to text Kairi, instead choosing to focus on school work, a sure sign
something was bothering him. The day passed into night quicker than he had anticipated and Sora, despite wanting to ask Kairi out to a movie or other friendly activity, once again showed his distress when he passed out for the night extremely early. Dazed and confused, a sleepy Sora shot up in the break of morning, unconsciously following his daily routine, despite the sun itself having only just risen. He stripped his clothing, shivering in the unusually cold spring morning, and stepped into the hot water of the shower. Time seemed to stand still as he stood half-awake and lost in his thoughts. Before he'd realized it, he'd finished showering, dressed, and made his way downstairs for breakfast. Glancing at the clock, he'd realized he 'd spent over an hour and a half showering and changing, definitively unusual compared to his average eight minute speed run. Placing his dishes in the sink, and, despite knowing it was nowhere near time for school, Sora departed his house and began a trek around the neighborhood. He hadn't gone on a walk around town for a while, at least not since he came to terms with his dad leaving. Something about the past few days had been bugging him, though, and nothing but fresh spring air was better to clear his mind, he surmised. Wandering aimlessly, he realized he'd been following all the old paths he'd taken with his best friend when he was younger. Stopping at one of the old parks they'd loved to play at, Sora took a seat on the bench. His eyes poured over the swing set and jungle gym they'd conquered together many times, hints of memory slowly flowing into his mind.

"I wish we were still together. I never got to say I was sorry for everything I said," he spoke aloud to the faint memory playing before him, his younger self and blonde compatriot struggling to climb the metal maze faster than the other.

A warm breeze rustled his shirt, small flecks of pollen and grass making him shield his eyes as he turned away from the small playground he'd been focused on. Through disheveled hair and wind-blown eyes, he'd thought he'd seen the faint glow of red hair breezing with the wind, but when he rubbed his eyes and fixed his hair, the figure was naught but gone. Sora sighed, another bad habit he'd noticed he'd picked up lately, and glanced at his phone for the time.

"I should get heading to school," he announced to no one but his memories, standing up.

He glanced at the playground once more, another sad smile belying his features.

"I really am sorry, you know? I feel so useless, I can't do anything for you. I just feel like I should've...like I should've been the one who-" his breath hitched as he comprehended the words, "Like I should've have been the one to die."

The smile faded just as a cloud passed by the sun, shading him darkness. He turned away from the playground, his feet scuffing the sidewalk as he trudged along.

And behind the side of the playground's fence, a young red-head could do nothing but cry as she slowly collapsed against the wall.

Our scattered memories hide,
Our intertwined emotions,
Because there are words that I wanted to say to you.
Cause if I find love's a lie,
Then I'll become a puppet,
And I'll be as useless as this song I'm singing.

End Note: Ah mah gersh! Well, hopefully you all like it despite it being such a short chapter. :( Anyways, special shout-out to XionTheBlackRose for reading and reviewing every chapter! It's super cool and I really appreciate it! Thanks for sticking in there with me. Anyways, gonna go and get some more writing done for you all! See ya's soon!